From an Expert: Tips for Locking Up Your Ebike 

What lock do you use to lock up your electric bike?

I’m surprised bicycle insurance wasn’t mentioned. I have my Lectric XP 2.0 insured against theft for $8 per month. A $25 GPS tracker is also a good way to keep track of your bike. Locks are important, but they will not stop a determined thief.

Watching vids like this got me started on scouting bike racks on places I would like to bike to. I was at a movie theater recently and the bike rack outside isn't even bolted down, and I was able to just move it on my own. Meanwhile a local mall has these really thick tube ones cemented into the pavement.

I currently use a combination of Kryptonite u-locks (a New York Fuggetaboutit and an Evolution), and cables, but am considering a chain as my u-lock shackles are too short to capture the front wheel to the frame. The cables lock the seat and front wheel. The big u-lock gets the frame and rear wheel. Sometimes I have to use the big u-lock just for the frame due to the rack design. Sometimes I have to use a cable to lock the frame to something other than a rack due to distance, thus considering a chain. So many places simply don’t accommodate bike parking, so I have to use a light pole, guard rail, etc. Of course, the Lock-picking Lawyer demonstrates how easily a lot of locks, including bike locks, are picked or defeated, so that makes the decision difficult.

The only bike that is safe from a thief is one that is out of sight or being watched by someone alert to a thief. A $100 18v hand held grinder with a 4" cut-off wheel can cut through any lock, any cable, and any chain in seconds. Bike lockers with recessed tumbler locks are the only place to even consider leaving a bike for an extended period of time. I have done trips of a thousand or more miles since 1968 and lost one bike in 1970 that had a cable lock around a power pole and lesson learned. I never leave my bike unattended but have in indoors or inside and out of sight in a car or in the covered bed of a truck. The advantage of the folding bikes is that they take up less space and can be taken indoors more easily. I love traveling in Costa Rica because at any parking spot there will be a freelance attendant who will watch over your bike or car while you are inside a store or a restaurant and when you leave you tip the fellow a couple of dollars. This works exceedingly well in preventing petty theft unlike the USA where we rely on insurance coverage after the fact.

I understand some bikes get stolen for parts, but it would also be good if they made a digital lockout for all eBikes, just like smartphones, so thieves know it’s pointless to steal your bike if they don’t have the bio or numerical code making it virtually useless.

Thanks for doing this.

Wealth of advice. Fast and succinct.

So my wife and I have our Rad folding bikes on there way from Washington to our location in Wisconsin and are looking forward to the new adventure. The topic of discussion this morning was locking our bikes . One of the scenarios for use will be to take them along with us on our camping trips besides the use of them around out neighborhood. I just recently view a camping/E-bike You Tube video in which the couple had both there E-bikes stolen 2 weeks ago. Admitting to not locking them over night and raving in the past about the unity and comradery between campers. They have since changed there mind set since this is the second time in a 2 year period that bikes were stolen 3 total. The last pair totaling over $7000 dollars , ouch! Any suggestions on camping lock up? Getting a little more creative around the camp site with locking up.

Just curious , obviously the links are not, but are the posts of a chain link fence safe?

We need a motor lock on a e-bike mid drive motor lock somehow the lock your motor up

I've had two bikes stolen in my youth right off the bike rack at school. Now I use two locks, an alarm and remove the battery.

Don't forget: write down your bike's serial number. If it's stolen, it's the first thing you'll need to file a police report.

Lockable batteries can be stolen. Simply keep it with you

i dont agree with lock according to value as its YOUR money and time to replace the bike and everything else you want to change on it. All you are doing is giving the bike to thieves otherwise as all locks can be quickly cut!

having someone talk about it isnt the same as physically showing a video or imagery of it, so this is only half helpful.